News

Feb 24, 2026

County Councils Network welcomes proposals to “rebalance” tribunal as part of SEND reforms

The County Councils Network (CCN) has suggested that while it is “important” to retain the SEND tribunal system, proposals published by the Government yesterday (23 February) to “rebalance the process” are welcome.

Feb 24, 2026

Ministers urged to scrap draft policy claimed to curtail ability of councils to require net zero standards for new homes

A group of more than 60 councils, businesses and NGOs have urged the Government to ditch a proposed policy in the draft National Planning Policy Framework that they claim could “unduly curtail local authorities’ ability to require net zero standards for new homes”.

Feb 24, 2026

Court of Appeal to hear dispute over whether individual was intentionally homeless after being evicted following misrepresentations to obtain tenancy

The Court of Appeal will this week (25 February) hear City of Wolverhampton Council’s appeal in a case concerning whether a person can be deemed intentionally homeless when they obtained a tenancy following misrepresentations made by them and the local housing authority evicted them as a result.

Feb 24, 2026

High Court refuses anti-abortion protester permission for judicial review over conviction

The High Court has refused an anti-abortion protester permission for a judicial review challenge after the Crown Court dismissed his appeal over his conviction for breaching a safe zone around a clinic.

Feb 24, 2026

Government confirms 35 councils to receive £1.5bn in exceptional financial support

The Government has agreed to provide around £1.5 billion in exceptional financial support (EFS) to 35 councils for the coming financial year.

Feb 23, 2026

Judge refuses permission on papers for judicial review of selective licensing policy in Thurrock

A High Court judge has refused on the papers permission for a judicial review challenge over Thurrock Council’s selective licensing policy.

Feb 23, 2026

City council secures High Court interim injunction to stop blockades at waste depots

Birmingham City Council has obtained a High Court injunction against persons unknown in a bid to tackle blockading or obstruction at its four waste depots.

Feb 23, 2026

Government proposes greater role for mediation in SEND disputes, with Tribunal as “backstop”

The Government has set out an increased role for mediation of disputes about special educational needs, with the SEND Tribunal remaining “as a genuine last resort” but no longer with the power to name the placement for the child.

Feb 23, 2026

Equalities watchdog concludes regulatory action on single-sex space policies

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has said it has concluded its regulatory action following the review of policies identified through the UK Government's 2024 call for input exercise on single-sex spaces.

Feb 23, 2026

Public Services Ombudsman for Wales consults on draft Strategic Plan 2026–2029

The Public Services Ombudsman for Wales has launched a public consultation on its draft Strategic Plan for 2026–2029, which it says sets out an “ambitious but realistic” programme of work.

Feb 23, 2026

Public Services Ombudsman for Wales to investigate two housing associations over damp and mould

The Public Services Ombudsman for Wales is to conduct ‘own initiative’ investigations into disrepair, damp and mould at two housing associations.

Feb 23, 2026

Councillors should be barred from sitting on Safety Advisory Groups in light of flawed football ban, MPs say

The Home Affairs Committee has said that Safety Advisory Groups (SAGs) should not include councillors, in a report on Birmingham City Council’s decision to block Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending a football game.

Feb 23, 2026

District urges town and parish councils to ensure councillors follow guidance on responsible use of social media

Tendring District Council has urged town and parish councils to ensure their councillors are following guidance on the “responsible use of social media”, following a standards investigation.

Feb 23, 2026

North East housing association to hold pre market engagement on expanded legal services framework

North East social landlord Karbon Homes is to hold preliminary market engagement on renewal of its legal services framework, which it has opened out to other housing associations.

Feb 20, 2026

Court of Appeal to hear Mazur appeal next week

The Court of Appeal will next week consider CILEx's challenge to the High Court’s ruling in Julia Mazur & Ors v Charles Russell Speechlys LLP.

Feb 20, 2026

Welsh council seeks injunction to halt deal threatening future of provincial rugby side

Swansea Council has applied for a High Court injunction to halt the proposed deal between the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) and Y11 to buy Cardiff Rugby, fearing that the process would lead to the end of the Ospreys and men's professional regional rugby in Swansea.

Feb 20, 2026

County council to pull out of devolution and local government reorganisation deal after elections u-turn

The Leader of Norfolk County Council has said it will pull out of devolution and local government reorganisation (LGR) following the Government’s decision to reverse the cancellation of local elections on legal advice.

Feb 20, 2026

National price bands for independent special school provision to give councils “confidence to challenge poor value”: DfE

The Government has unveiled plans for new national price bands aimed at ending “unjustified” fee variation for independent special school provision, a move it says will give councils the confidence to challenge poor value placements.

Feb 20, 2026

High Court quashes Care Act assessment over failure to identify overnight needs

The London Borough of Tower Hamlets unlawfully assessed the needs of an applicant under section 9 of the Care Act 2014 by failing to identify overnight care needs in an “unexplained leap of reasoning”, the High Court has found.

Feb 19, 2026

Thinktank calls for setting up of neighbourhood boards with 50% or more community representation if reorganisation goes ahead

Neighbourhood boards that are “inclusive, empowered and well-resourced” and have 50% or more community representation should be established if local government reorganisation goes ahead, a leading thinktank has argued amid concerns at the impact of unitarisation on local democracy, representation…

Feb 19, 2026

Crown Commercial Service issues tender notice for £600m Legal Panel for the Public Sector

The Crown Commercial Services has issued a tender notice for its proposed Legal Panel for the Public Sector, which is worth an estimated £600m over five years.

Feb 19, 2026

Judge rules abuse claims cannot proceed because of limitation period and impact of delay on cogency of evidence

Mr Justice Turner has decided in the High Court that he should not disapply provisions in the Limitation Act 1980 in a case brought by three men who claim to have been abused in children’s homes owned by Leicestershire County Council.

Feb 19, 2026

Boat owners lose appeal over moorings possession order in favour of Environment Agency

The High Court has dismissed 26 grounds argued by three groups of boat owners in a dispute over moorings at West Molesey in Surrey.

Feb 19, 2026

Ex-council worker jailed for £893k fraud against vulnerable service users

A former Bolton Council worker has been jailed for four years and eight months for defrauding almost £900,000 in DWP benefits from vulnerable adults.

Feb 19, 2026

Children with special educational needs to face review of right to support on move to secondary school: reports

Children with special educational needs will have their right to support reviewed as they move into secondary school, leaked government plans reported by the BBC and others suggest.

Feb 19, 2026

Schools White Paper cannot ignore “looming” £3.4bn SEND transport bill, say county councils

Councils have warned that the Government’s upcoming School’s White Paper “cannot ignore” increasing school transport costs - estimated to reach £3.4bn by 2030/31.

Feb 18, 2026

Local government reorganisation proposals carry “material risks” for children and children’s services: ADCS

Local government reorganisation (LGR) proposals which involve disaggregation of established local authorities and those that involve amalgamation both carry “material risks” for children and children’s services, the Association of Directors of Children’s services (ADCS) has warned.

Feb 18, 2026

City council to pay £80k in costs after “unreasonable” refusal of consent to demolition works

Manchester City Council's refusal to provide consent as landlord for the demolition of two warehouses to make way for a 1000-home housing development was "unreasonable", the High Court has found.

Feb 18, 2026

Upper Tribunal backs bid by parish council for modification of covenant on gifted land

The Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) has altered a covenant restriction on a former doctor’s surgery to allow a parish council to market the building to providers of other medical services.

Feb 18, 2026

Borough council to procure replacement barristers framework agreement

Bedford Borough Council has launched the procurement of its latest barristers framework agreement.

Feb 17, 2026

District council secures High Court orders against illegal encampments at three sites

Tandridge District Council has obtained High Court orders to stop unlawful works at three developments.

Feb 17, 2026

Lead Family Presiding Judge consults on short notice application guidance and newborn baby protocol

The Lead Family Presiding Judge, Mr Justice Keehan, is inviting views on new Family Court Short Notice Application Guidance, a Newborn Baby Protocol and Template Orders.

Feb 17, 2026

Institute of Licensing publishes guidance on Martyn’s Law

The Institute of Licensing (IoL) has issued guidance on Martyn’s Law, produced to support licensing professionals, operators, regulators and partners as the UK prepares for the implementation of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025.

Feb 17, 2026

High Court quashes refusal by council to fund care needs of disabled adult

The Administrative Court has quashed a decision of West Sussex County Council to refuse to fund a disabled adult’s care needs and to seek repayment of sums, finding that the authority acted unlawfully in taking into account funds held in a personal injury (PI) trust.

Feb 17, 2026

Health board acknowledges it acted unlawfully in failing to comply with Mental Capacity Act 2005

The Court of Protection has found that a health board acted unlawfully in failing to comply with the consultation requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) when making best interests decisions about a 72-year-old man with advanced dementia.

Feb 17, 2026

Ombudsman warns of collapse in public trust in planning enforcement without proper resourcing

Unlawful developments are being left permanently in place across England because under-resourced councils are running out of time to act, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) has warned.

Feb 17, 2026

Minister writes to social landlords on importance of fair consideration of requests to have a pet

The Government has written to social landlords including councils and private registered providers to reaffirm the importance of ensuring that tenant requests to keep pets are considered fairly and, where appropriate, tenants are allowed to keep pets.

Feb 17, 2026

Landlords threaten borough council with legal action over selective licensing scheme

The Eastern Landlords Association has sent a pre-action protocol letter to Great Yarmouth Borough Council over the local authority’s designation of a selective licensing scheme in various wards.

Feb 16, 2026

Court of Appeal to hear dispute over enforcement notice issued after 460-seat theatre built without permission

The Court of Appeal will this week hear an appeal by a not-for-profit community and youth theatre company regarding an enforcement notice issued by Fareham Borough Council over the building of a 460-seat theatre without planning permission.

Feb 16, 2026

Planning and infrastructure specialist Simon Bell joins Cornerstone Barristers

Simon Bell, a specialist planning, infrastructure, public, and information law barrister with over 20 years’ experience, has joined Cornerstone Barristers.

Feb 16, 2026

Minister orders unitary to publish revised Local Development Scheme but council says intervention is "unwarranted"

The Minister of State for Housing and Planning, Matthew Pennycook, has directed Buckinghamshire Council to publish a revised Local Development Scheme (“LDS”) by 11 March 2026.

Feb 16, 2026

Legal advice ahead of court hearing sees Government ditch plans to postpone local elections

The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Steve Reed, has – following receipt of legal advice ahead of a Divisional Court hearing this week - withdrawn his decision to postpone local elections in 30 areas subject to local government reorganisation.

Feb 16, 2026